Archives IV B-2 LAB Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection, 1904- : Guide. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University © 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College IV B-2 LAB Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection, 1904- : Guide Archives of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts © 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College Descriptive Summary Repository: Archives of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, MA Call No.: IV B-2 LAB Location: Archives Title: Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection, 1904- Creator: The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Quantity: 20 linear inches, 5 boxes Language of material: English Abstract: In April, 1937, Isabel Anderson donated the major portion of her husband’s bonsai collection (30 plants) to the Arnold Arboretum, along with the funds necessary to build a shade house for their display on the grounds of the Bussey Institution. In 1949, following her death, the remaining plants were donated to the Arboretum. While the majority of the holding is photographs that document the history of individual plants and the collection, the Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection also includes publications by Larz and Isabel Anderson, articles and photographs of Weld and the Bonsai Collection before it came to the Arnold Arboretum, and correspondence between Isabel Anderson and E.D. Merrill about the donation of the Bonsai Collection to the Arnold Arboretum. Related Material: The Records of the Arnold Arboretum Bonsai Pavilion (ID-3b Series IV) collection contains project plans, correspondence, architectural plans and maps related to the 2008 Bonsai Pavillion project. See Map Database for Bonsai House construction plans, using search term “Japanese Dwarf.” Digital images of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection can be found in the Image Portal database by using the search term “bonsai.” Please note that Image Portal can only be accessed on- site. Note: Access to Finding Aid record in Hollis Classic or Hollis. Processing Information Compiled by Rebecca Anderson. Edited by Sheila Connor, Archivist, July 1997. Finding aid template applied by Kayleigh Hinckley, March 2011. Revised by Liz Francis, November 2011. IV B-2 LAB Page 2 of 38 Acquisition Information Provenance: The material was compiled by the Archives from gifts of Isabel Anderson, journals, newspapers, and the photographs of staff. Terms of Access Researchers seeking to examine archival materials are strongly encouraged to make an appointment. The Director, or an office of origin, may place restrictions on the use of some or all of its records. The extent and length of the restriction will be determined by the Director, office of origin, and the Archivist. Terms of Use The copyright is held by The President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Arnold Arboretum Archives of Harvard University. The copyright on some materials in the collection may be held by the original author or the author's heirs or assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining written permission from the holder(s) of copyright and the Arnold Arboretum Archives prior to publishing any quotations or images from materials in this collection. Photocopies may be made at the discretion of the Arnold Arboretum Archives staff. Permission to make photocopies does not constitute permission to reproduce or publish materials outside the bounds of the fair use guidelines. Historical Note Larz Anderson (1866-1937) was born in Paris in 1866, while his parents were visiting Europe. In August 1888, after graduating from Harvard College in June, he embarked on a trip around the world which lasted two years and included his first exposure to Japan. In 1897, Anderson married Isabel Weld Perkins (1876-1948) of Brookline, Massachusetts. She authored several books, including one about the Weld family entitled Under the Black Horse Flag. “Weld,” her family home in Brookline, served as the couple’s country home for many years while they made their primary residence in Washington, D.C. Located near Jamaica Pond in Brookline, the gardens at Weld were designed by Charles A. Platt. After Isabel Anderson’s death in 1949, “Weld” was donated to Brookline and is now called Larz Anderson Park. Part of the estate is now the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, the oldest automobile museum in the United States. Ambassador and Mrs. Larz Anderson portrait by Philip de Laszlo IV B-2 LAB Page 3 of 38 After serving in the military and holding a variety of diplomatic posts in Europe Larz Anderson returned to Japan in 1912 as “Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.” He resigned in March 1913 after the change of the Republican Taft Administration to the Democratic Wilson administration. This was Anderson’s last official diplomatic position. The Japanese Garden at “Weld” photographed by T.E. Marr for House and Garden magazine, 1909 Upon his return from Japan in 1913, Larz Anderson imported at least forty trees from the Yokohama Nursery Company. Following his death in April, 1937, Isabel Anderson donated the major portion of the collection (30 plants) to the Arnold Arboretum, along with the funds necessary to build a shade house for their display on the grounds of the Bussey Institution. In 1949, following her death, the remaining plants were donated to the Arboretum. Bonsai House interior photographed by Donald Wyman, 1938 By 1969 the collection numbered only 27 plants, down from the original 39 due in part to death from winter damage, theft, and improper care. The maintenance situation improved in 1962, with the construction of a redwood lath house for display and a concrete-block cold- storage unit for winter protection. In addition, knowledgeable curation and proper care from Connie Derderian of Watertown, Massachusetts in the years 1969-1984 helped safeguard Connie Derderian working on Chamaecyparis obtusa, 1970 IV B-2 LAB Page 4 of 38 the remaining plants. In those years she also trained Peter Del Tredici as her replacement. The theft of six plants in 1986 led to renovations of the bonsai house and a new security system. As of August 1989, fifteen plants of the original thirty-nine still remain. Extracted from: Del Tredici, Peter. “The Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection.” Arnoldia 49(3): 2-36. Summer 1989. Peter Del Tredici repotting Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Chabo-hiba’ 879-37, 1996 Scope and Content While the majority of the holding is photographs that document the history of individual plants and the collection, the Records of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection also includes publications by Larz and Isabel Anderson, articles and photographs of Weld and the Bonsai Collection before it came to the Arnold Arboretum, and correspondence between Isabel Anderson and E.D. Merrill about the donation of the Bonsai Collection to the Arnold Arboretum. Also included are articles about the Bonsai Collection at the Arnold Arboretum and its curators. Photographs include prints of the Bonsai houses, exhibits, maintenance, and other general subjects. Individual portraits of the plants over the years 1969-1989 are also included, along with some oversized prints. Arrangement The Larz Anderson Bonsai collection is arranged in 3 series: Series I: Biographical Material and the Bonsai Collection Series II: Photographs Series III: Individual Portraits Container List Series I: Biographical Material and the Bonsai Collection Box 1 IV B-2 LAB Page 5 of 38 Isabel Anderson’s The Spell of Japan. 1914 Books Anderson, Isabel. The Spell of Japan. Page Company Publishing, 1914. Anderson, Isabel, ed. Larz Anderson: Letters and Journals of a Diplomat. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1940. Anderson, Larz. Japanese Dwarf Trees Collected by Hon. Larz Anderson. Including: . “The Japanese Dwarf Trees at “the Weld” Estate. “The Life of Japanese Dwarf Trees” prepared by Rainosuke Awano. “How to take care of Japanese Dwarf Trees.” From the Archives of the Hon. Larz Anderson. Folder 1. Portrait of Larz and Isabel Anderson by Philip de Laszlo Photograph of painting (2 copies) 2. Weld, the Anderson estate, articles “The Ancient Art of Bonsai” House Beautiful, June 1933. “The Gardens at Weld” Town and Country, 59(1) March 12, 1904. “A Japanese Garden in America” by Isabel Anderson House & Garden 16:90-91, plus a double page photograph of the garden 1909. 3. Correspondence between Isabel Anderson and E.D. Merrill, Director of the Arnold Arboretum, including a letter of transmittal of the Larz Anderson Collection Isabel Anderson to E.D. Merrill confirming her gift of bonsai plants to the Arboretum, to be called The Larz Anderson Collection. June 11, 1937 IV B-2 LAB Page 6 of 38 5 letters from Merrill about arrangements to take the Larz Anderson Collection and in thanks for financial support. Copies. June, 1937-May, 1938 4. Articles about the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection Wyman, Donald. “The Larz Anderson Collection of Japanese Dwarf Trees.” Bulletin of Popular Information, Series 4, 6 (7): 31-39. May 27, 1938. Wyman, Donald. “The Larz Anderson Collection of Japanese Dwarf Trees.” Bulletin of Popular Information 11 (4): 29-35. May 11, 1951. Wyman, Donald. “Bonsai at the Arnold Arboretum.” Arnoldia 24(12): 101-104. December 18, 1964. Derderian, Constance E. “Big trees.” Bonsai; Journal of the American Bonsai Society 7 (3): 60-61. 1973. (with letter from the editor of Bonsai, Donald Vining, former Arboretum Mercer Fellow, to Richard A. Howard, Director of the Arboretum) Derderian, Constance E. “Subtropical Bonsai for Indoor Gardening.” Arnoldia 36(1): 1-21. 1976. Derderian, Constance E. “Bonsai at the Arnold Arboretum.” Bonsai Journal 13(4): 75-78. 1980. Morgenrroth, Lynda. “Bonsai, minute but magnificent.” The Boston Globe, June 6, 1986. Doherty, Jack. “Bonsai plants stolen.” Jamaica Plain Citizen, October 30, 1986. Dietz, Jean. “Giant interest in dwarf trees makes her an Arboretum curator.” The Boston Globe, June 14, 1987. “Bonsai Birthday.” Harvard University Gazette 82(35), May 15, 1987.